Fountain pen



May 28, 1929. w. v. ULLNER FOUNTAIN PEN Filed July 26, 1926 2Sheets$heet y 1929- w. v. ULLNER 7 ,9

FOUNTAIN PEN Filed July 26, 1926 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented May 28, 1929.

WALTER V. ULLNER, OF OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA.

FOUNTAIN PEN.

Application filed July 26,

My invention relates to improvements in fountain pens and the likewherein a cap is arranged to be slidably movable along the barrel of thepen to expose the point for use without removing the cap from thebarrel.

The primary object of my invention is to provide an improved fountainpen construction, and particularly an improved cap constriurtion wherebya cap is arranged to be carried upon the barrel of the pen at all timesand thereby avoid possible loss and breakage so objectionable to the useof removable caps Another important'object is to provide a pen providedwith an improved cap adapted to efficiently enclose the pen point and tofacilitate the exposing of the pen for purposes of writing.

A further object is to provide an improved construction which willincrease the ink capacity of a pen of standard dimensions.

Another object is to provide a device which is of neat and attractiveappearance and which is simple and efiicient. in operation.

A still further object is to provide an improved construction which maybe easily assembled and which may be readily taken 30 apart for cleaningor other purposes.

I accomplish these and other objects by means of the improvedconstruction disclosed in the drawings forming a part of the presentapplication wherein like char acters of reference are used to designatesimilar parts throughout the specification and drawings and in which,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of my lll'lPl'OVOCl fountain pen, the dottedlines showing the improved cap partly open.

Fig. 2 is a similar view with parts broken away and shown in section todisclose the construction and operation of the device.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 33 of Fig. 2in the direction indicated.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken at the point marked by thesection line 44 of Fig. 2, with the prongs assumed to be moved to theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1 of the drawings. r

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional View taken upon the line 55 of Fig. 2in the direction indicated.

pen with the cap in receded position.

. being shaped to cause the Fig. 6 is a side elevation of my improved1926. Serial No. 124,980.

Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional view taken upon the line 77 of Fig. 6in the direction indicated.

Referring to the drawings, the numeral 1 is used to designate in generalthe barrel of a fountain pen provided with the usual pen point 2. A cap3 is slidably mounted upon the barrel 1, said cap being provided with aplurality of pointed prongs 4 arranged to normally converge-around thepen point 2 and to fully enclose the same when the cap is moved toclosed position as shown in full lines in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings.The edges of the prongs are beveled and arranged to match closely alongtheir entire length when the cap is in closed position whereby a smoothsurface and tight closure is obtained.

The prongs 4 are constructed in such manner and of such material as tohave suflicient spring resilience to normally contract the prongs towardeach other. Expanding lugs 6 are formed upon the inner sides of theprongs and arranged to engage grooves 7 formed along the barrel 1, thebacks of the grooves prongs to be spread outwardly to clear the penpoint 2 when the cap 3 is moved rearwardly from closed position tooperating position. As the cap is moved rearwardly upon the barrel, theprongs are carried into proximate relation with said barrel. Thecurvature of the barrel is made to substantially conform to thecurvature of the prongs 4, and widened wedge shaped grooved portions 8are formed in the surface of the barrel to receive the prongs whenthecap reaches the operative position, the spring resilience of theprongs serving to move the prongs into the grooves and to hold saidprongs flush with the surface of the barrel to obtain a smooth surfaceimmediately back of the point 2. Recesses 9 are formed adjacent theforward ends of the grooves 7 to receive the lugs 6 when the cap is inclosed position whereby the prongs may contract into closing relation.Recesses 11 formed at the rearward ends of the grooves 7 receive thelugs 6 when the cap is moved to operating position, thereby defining theoperating position and permitting the prongs to contract into the grooveportfuons 8 and give a smooth uninterrupted surace.

The pen is provided with an ink reservoir 12 consisting of a sackconstructed of rubber or other suitable material within the bled withinthe barrel 1 and connected to the point 2 in the well known manner. Therearward end of the sack preferably terminates in a bulb portion 14extending outwardly from the end of the barrel and arranged to becompressed for fillingthe reservoir. Acap 16 is detachably connectedupon the end of the barrel to normally enclose the bulb 14.

In operation, the reservoir 12 is. assembarrel 1 and connected to a pencarrying member 17 threaded or otherwise secured upon the upward end ofthe barrel. The cap 16 is applied upon the opposite end of the barrel toenclose the bulb 14-, and the cap 3 is applied upon the barrel by movingthe same over the forward end of the barrel, sufficient pressure beingapplied to force the lugs 6 over the end of the barrel and the pencarrying member 17. When the lugs 6 are received within the recesses 9the prongs 4 are permitted to contract and form a complete closurearound the point 2, as above explained.

When it is desired to open the pen for use, the cap 3 is pressedrearwardly along the barrel 1, thereby causing'the lugs 6 to be movedalong the grooves 7 whereby the prongs may be spread apart to clear thepen point 2 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. As the cap reachesits extreme rearward position, the lugs 6 drop into the recesses 11 andpermit the prongs to contract against the barrel within the wedge shapedgroove portions 8 as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 2. In this positionthe point 2'is fully exposed and the pen is ready for use.

When it is desired to again close the pen, the cap 3 is moved forwardly,the first engagement between the lugs 6 and the ends of the grooves 7operating to spread the prongs 4 and permit the same to be movedforwardly past the end of the barrel. As the cap reaches the forwardextreme position the lugs 6 again engage the recesses 9 and permit theprongs to spring into normal closing position.

If it is desired to remove the cap entirely for cleaning or for otherpurposes, the cap is pressed forwardly and the lugs forced past the endof the barrel and the pen carrying member 17.

' In filling the pen, the cap 16 is removed and the bulb 14 compressedto expel air from the reservoir. The pen point is then inserted into inkand when the bulb is released a supply ofink will be drawn into thereser- V011. ing the bulb toexpel the air, and again inserting the pointinto the ink, the reservoir and bulb may be completely filled with ink,thereby obtaining a large supply of ink within the pen.

It will be noted that my improved construction entirely avoids the useof a removable cap, such as commonly provided for By then inverting thepen and press-v pens. The inconvenience of removing such caps andreversing the same upon the pen is thereby entirely avoided, and inaddition the danger of breaking or losing the cap-is eliminated. Theremovable cap such as commonly provided necessitates that the operativeportion of the pen be made relatively short in order that the totallength when the cap is reversed will not prove inconvenient for writing.My improved pen, however, is so arranged that the length of the pen isshortened when the cap is moved to operative position, therebypermitting the barrel of thepen to be made longer than would otherwisebe practical and thus obtaining a great increase in the ink capacity.

The cap, as above explained, is so constructed that a smooth unbrokensurface is obtained both when the cap is in closing and in operatingposition, thereby insuring a neat and attractive appearance at alltimes, zfind permitting the pen to be used with comort.

The specific form and construction of my ters Patent is:

1. The combination with the barrel and point of a fountain pen, of a capslidably mounted upon the barrel and provided with a plurality ofpointed resilient prongs normally converging around the point and havingtheir adjacent edges matching along the entire length thereof to form atight closure around said point; grooves formed upon the sides of thebarrel adjacent each prong to receive said prongs; and expanding lugsconnected to the prongs and engaging the bottoms of the grooves, saidlugs being arranged to spread the prongs apart when the cap is movedrea-rwardly along the barrel to expose the point.

2. The combination with the barrel and, point of a pen, of a capslidably mounted upon the barrel and provided with a plurality ofpointed resilient prongs normally converging in closely matchingrelation around the point to enclose the same; grooves formed along thebarrel adjacent the prongs, and expanding lugs connected to the prongsand engaging the grooves to spread the prongs apart when the cap ismoved rearwardly along the barrel to expose the pen, said lugs beingarranged to be received in recesses at the ends of the grooves to permitthe prongs to contract to normal opened or closed position.

at each end thereof and widened portions.

formed along the forward portions thereof;

and expanding lugs connected to the prongsand engaging the groovestospread the prongs apart when the cap is moved rearwardly along thebarrel to expose the pen, said lugs being arranged to be received withinthe forward recesses to permit the prongs to contract to normal closedposition around the point and to be received within the rearwardrecesses to permit the prongs to contract against the sides of thebarrel when moved to open position, said prongs being received withinthe widened portions of the grooves flush with the surface of the barrelto obtain a smooth surface adjacent the pen point;

4. The combination with the barrel and point of a fountain pen, of a capslidably mounted upon the barrel wardly therealong from normal closingposi- 30 tion to operating position; resilient pointed and movablerearprongs formed upon the forward end of the cap and arranged tocontract into closely matching relation enclosing the pen when the capis in closed position and arranged to be spread apart and received inwedge shaped grooves formed upon the barrel when the cap is moved tooperating position, the outer surfaces of the prongs being flush withthe surface of the forward end of'the barrel.

5. In a fountain pen, the combination with a barrel having wedge shapedgrooves formed upon the forward end thereof and \a pen point, of a capslidably mounted upon the forward end of the barrel; a plurality ofresilient pointed prongs formed upon the forward end of the cap andarranged to contract into closely matching relation enclosing thepenwhen the cap is in closed posltion; and means formed upon the prongs andengaging the bottoms of the grooves for spreading the points apart toclear'the pen when the cap is moved rearwardly along the barrel, saidprongs being received within the upper portions of the grooves'andresting therein with their outer surfaces flush with the surface of theforward end of the barrel when in operating position.

In witness whereof I signature.

v WALTER V. ULLNER.-

hereunto set my

